The Whitewright Sun
Friday, January 23, 1920
pg 1

Farmer Kills Nineteen Year Old Son-In-Law

Denison, Tex., Jan. 18 - Dewey Woodruff, 19, was shot and instantly killed Saturday afternoon by his father-in-law, H. K. Swann, a prominent farmer living three and one half miles northwest of Denison. The tragedy occurred near the Benjimin garage at the corner of Chestnut street and Fannin avenue. Woodruff is the son of Mrs. Elizabeth Woodruff, residing at 223 West Morgan street. Deceased is survived by two sisters and a brother. Swann gave himself up to the sheriff immediately after the shooting. The weapon used was a 41 caliber gun.
According to an eye witness, the shooting started at the alley way back of the Denison Hotel. Woodruff ran to the alley way between Chestnut and Crawford before he fell. Swann shot again at Woodruff as he was running but missed. When Woodruff fell the father-in-law ran up to the prostrate man, placed the gun to his back but it snapped. After readjusting
the gun he shot Woodruff three times.
Mr. Swann said that family trouble caused the shooting. He was asked what this trouble was but would not say. He admitted that Woodruff had married his daughter some time ago. Mr. Swann has been a farmer in this community for twenty-one years, coming from Tennessee. He came from Van Alstyne to Denison.